Incandescent electric light



A (No Mcdel.)

T; L. GLINGMAN.

INGANDESGENT ELEGTRIG LIGHT.

No. 276,133. Patented Apr, 17,1883.

N. PETE-R5. wnmumq m w. Washington, :1. c

FFICEQ THOMAS L. OLINGMAN, OF ASHEVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA.

INCANDESCENT ELECTRiC LIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 276,133, dated April 17, 1883.

Application tiled March 20, 1880. (No model.) Patented in England November 4, 1980, No. 1,840, and in France Deccmber 23, 1880, No. 139,378.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS LANIER. CLING- MAN, ot' the town of Asheville, in the county of Buncombe and State of North (Jarolina, of the United States, have invented a new and useful Means for Producing Electric Light, which is fully set forth in the following specication.

I propose to use a small mass in the form of a sphere, spheroid, or elongated form similar to a cylinder with convex ends, or a hemispherical mass, this mass to be composed of a mixture of zirconia and plumbago or other form of carbon. The mass, when thus composed otzirconia and carbon, may also be coated on its outside with a thin coating or glazing ot'zirconia. This mass or head is to be supported on each side by wires or pins of platinum, which are to be 'connected with copper or other metallic electrodes. These pins, where they are in contact with the zirconia and carbon mass, may be in any form, and may also be connected at several points with the mass, as shown in the figures, or only at a single point, and may be expanded at the point'ot' contact. I also propose that in some cases openings be made through the mass in different directions, so as to admit air to affect the amount of heat at particular points.

Zirconia is the most infusible substance known, and is also a non-conductor of electricity. Its want of conducting quality renders it, when mixed with carbon, incandescent under the electric current whenit is made to pass it. Plumbago and other forms of carbon are,nextto the metals, the best conductors,but are combustible under high degrees of heat. When a mixture is made the carbon furnishes a conductor for the electricity, while the surploycd will influence the proportion of the several mixtures.

Theincaudescence and light by my invention are produced by passing electricity through the compound of zirconia and carbon, and at the same time the carbon is protected from contact with the air, and. consequently from combustion, so that no mechanism is necessary for feeding the carbon to supply waste.

By having openings when deemed necessary the presence of some air will tend to cool the points of the mass in contact with the platinum. The central pin of platinum may enter one of the openings larger than itself, and thus be prevented from getting an excess of heat.

Figures 1, 2, 3 represent the forms intended to be used. A isthezirconia mass or mixture. B represents the platinum pins or wires; 0, the electrodes, of copper or other metal.

The pins ofplatin um may be connected with the mass by a'single point'enlarged, as in Fig. 1, or by several points, as in Figs. 2 and 3.

Fig. 3 represents the openings or airpassages in dili'erent directions, in one of which a wire point may be inserted, so as not to fill it, however.

The central mass may be formed by taking the zirconia in powder, as it is usually obtained, and mixing it with the carbon, likewise in powder. The mixture may then be moistened with any adhesive liquid and molded into the shape desired. In some cases the mass may be made by molding the central portion into the shape ofa cylinder composed of alarger portion of zirconia, or of zirconia alone, and after it has been dried there may be stuck to its ends bits having a greater portion of the conducting substances, so as to cause less heat at the ends in contact with the platinum or other substance used to support it. After the mass has been dried it may, when desired, have a thin coating of zirconiaadded to itsoutside to cover it over entirely or partially. The openings in the mass, whenever-it is desirable to use them, can be made by molding the mass around a wire like a knitting-needle or small rod, which, after drying, can be drawnout; or, secondly, they may be produced bymolding the massaroundasmallcylinderof hard smooth wires or points of platinum B and electrodes wood, or even a straw, which will in the bak- O,substantiallyasherein shown and described. :0

ing of the mass be burned out and leave hol- In testimony whereof I affix my signature in low spaces. presence of two witnesses. o What Iclaim, and desire to secure byLetters THOMAS L. OLINGMAN.

Patent, is- Witnesses:

The mass A, composed of a mixture of 211' D. P. HOLLOWAY, couia and carbon, in combination with the L. O. YOUNG. 

